Milford: Candidates highlight differences at forum

Wednesday

Mar 26, 2014 at 12:01 AM

By Lindsay CorcoranDaily News Staff

MILFORD – Candidates for each of the contested races in the upcoming April 1 town election highlighted their differences in answering questions at Citizens for Milford’s candidate forum Tuesday night.The four School Committee candidates, Joseph Callery, David Levine, Jennifer Parson and John Erickson, answered questions about Common Core, dropout rates and test scores, and the future use of Middle School East.When asked about Common Core, a set of nationally accepted standards in English and math for students from kindergarten to 12th grade, many of the candidates touted its ability to "level the playing field" across the country."It provides consistency," said Parson, of its major benefit."What concerns me about it is how much the top level students are going to be affected," said Erickson, the only candidate to speak against the concept.Resident Dan Niro asked the candidates what "dramatic" changes they would make to improve what he said are some of the lowest test scores and graduation rates.While the candidates dismissed his premise, most mentioned ideas for improving the school system.Callery said that Milford’s diversity can sometimes be a problem for the statistics Niro mentioned and advocated "catching them early," while Parson said helping teachers address mental health issues is key.In terms of Middle School East, Erickson said he wants to see the town make a profit on the building, whether that be selling or not. Parson said she was interested in the idea of a community college, noting Milford schools do a good job of forming partnerships.The two Highway Surveyor candidates, incumbent Scott Crisafulli and former surveyor Shelly Leclaire, answered many questions about the quality of roads."I think it’s a combination of things," Leclaire said in response to her claim that roads have deteriorated over the last five years since she left office. "I just think that there has to be a more proactive plan to monitor streets. There’s plenty of money."Crisafulli was asked to respond to Leclaire’s campaign complaint against his office’s customer service."I think anyone who has called the office knows you get helped immediately," Crisafulli said. "We can’t always answer the phone right away, there’s only two people in the office, but we do whatever we can to make it right."Resident Beverly Swimer questioned Leclaire’s decision to leave the position six years ago and asked how residents could be assured it wouldn’t happen again."I commit that I can bring everything that I’ve learned back to the office and guarantee that I won’t leave unless beat by an opponent or you carry me out in a box," Leclaire said.Tax Collector candidates Theresa Diomedes Dias and Melissa Alves-Tomas were asked to differentiate their views on technology and how they would discourage delinquent taxpayers.Dias said she was happy to implement the online tax payments a month ago and said she’d be looking to do electronic billing. She also noted the office needs a new computer."When I think of technology, I think about options and features that are available to you, the residents," Alves-Tomas said.In terms of delinquent taxes, Dias noted the collection rate is 99 percent and that under the law there is only so much a Tax Collector can do. Alves-Tomas recommended more communication with other departments, including selectmen.Contact Lindsay Corcoran at 508-634-7582 or lcorcoran@wickedlocal.com. Follow her on Twitter @LacorcMDN.